Vidas: Hi guys, this is Vidas.
 
Ausra: And Ausra.
 
V: Let’s start episode 357 of Secrets of Organ Playing Podcast. This question was sent sent by Jeremy, and he writes:
 
Finding time to do the work I want to do.  As we approach the end of the semester, my own interests begin to move into the background and I become swamped with work for other people.
 
V: That’s a common struggle, Ausra, right?
 
A: It’s very common.
 
V: Probably one of the most frequently sent in of people’s questions about finding time to do what they love to do.
 
A: True! I still struggle with finding time, especially for practicing the organ, but I remember my study days, and it was a really had time, because usually when we would have academic breaks on Christmas, or on this break at Easter, we would have to work doubly as hard at church, because we always would work at church at that time, so it was really hard. It was, as Jeremy says, that he has to do work for other people, so I guess my advice would be to learn to say, “no!” to others, and it doesn’t sound nice. Yes? I sound like an egoistic, selfish person, but that’s a way to survive!
 
V: It doesn’t sound nice, because he is on our team who transcribes fingering and pedaling!
 
A: Well, yes, but sometimes you have to think what is more important for you right at that moment. And if the work is absolutely overwhelming, you just have to say, “no!”
 
V: Obviously….
 
A: Well, and it’s not true if you get paid, or if you get something for doing something. That’s a normal thing. But, I’m talking about people who are using other people and giving you nothing back.
 
V: What if they are giving you something, but not enough?
 
A: Well, then negotiate. And if you will not succeed, then just quit!
 
V: I wonder if there was ever a time when we had more things to do than right now, and less time, or vice versa. Which time in your life, Ausra, was the busiest?
 
A: Well, I think that my studies in the US. Yes. And, I remember that the closer to the end I would go with my studies, and sometimes I would get a free half hour, and honestly, I would be so surprised, I would be shocked, actually! I wouldn’t know what to do with that free half hour.
 
V: I think if you are always doing something during your day, this 30 minutes that’s just for you to relax, sit down, or take a break, or take your walk, that would be ideal. Not do something, not do anything, actually!
 
A: And I remember those times, doctoral studies time, when I would go to the gym, usually I would go to swim or to run, or to do both, but not because I wanted it, but I knew that after that I would get more energy, and I could work even more for my studies, or practice, or do something else—write some paper.
 
V: Right. Physical activity obviously gives more energy.
 
A: Well, but yes. It doesn’t mean that you need to exercise in order after that to just exhaust yourself.
 
V: To me, with finding time, there is another problem. I have too many wishes. I have too many interests and curiosities. In a sense, it’s very good, really, but when you have too many things you want to do, then you cannot really focus on several or a few that really matter, and then I have to limit myself, and this is hard.
 
A: Well, yes.
 
V: I could probably list 30 things I’m interested in. And the list is growing!
 
A: Well, you know, I could easily cure this kind of problem of yours!
 
V: In which way?
 
A: Switch jobs with me, and I’m sure after teaching for so many hours, you will have no energy left whatsoever, and you will limit yourself to maybe, I don’t know, 2 or 3 things!
 
V: That’s right.
 
A: Work. Sleep. Eat.
 
V: “Eat, Pray Love.” Do you know this book?
 
A: I heard about it, but I haven’t read it.
 
V: There is a movie, also, and a wonderful book. Three things are really important in life. So talking about Jeremy and others who are struggling with finding time, especially for organ playing, what we can say is just, probably not give advice, but share our experiences, how we are dealing with this. Right Ausra?
 
A: Yes, and like this first semester I was teaching for church organists, teaching harmony class, and also giving some organ lessons. And I just found it overwhelming, because I started to have health issues, and I just said, “that’s it. that’s enough.” And what I really didn’t like about it, I like teaching itself, but what I didn’t like at all was that I could not find time to practice myself, because I was teaching on Saturdays and on Wednesdays, and these are two days when I’m not teaching at the school of art, where I usually teach on Mondays and Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. And then on Wednesdays and Saturdays, I practice myself. So I just had to quit that. And I’m not doing that since the second semester.
 
V: And nothing happens!
 
A: Nothing happens, yes! In stead of that, I will resume my own practicing, because I have recitals coming up. So, I really need to do it. Plus, I enjoy much more playing organ myself.
 
V: Doing things that you love is, in this case, much more beneficial to your long term health and success than doing things that they love from you.
 
A: That’s right.
 
V: They can still find another teacher, I think.
 
A: Good luck with that! It’s not an easy task, knowing what they want!
 
V: And what do they want?
 
A: They want quality!
 
V: Quality?
 
A: Yes.
 
V: In teaching harmony?
 
A: Yes.
 
V: And what do they give you in return for that quality.
 
A: Well, almost nothing.
 
V: Mhm! That’s why they will struggle to find someone with quality.
 
A: True. It’s a very interesting approach, because right now, I’ve been teaching for three months, already, and I haven’t received any money yet!
 
V: Maybe you will see double money! Dividends!
 
A: Ha, yeah, I wish that would be true.
 
V: Well, for me, I also agree with you that I have to say, “no” to many things, and I limit my interests to just a selection of activities that I really enjoy, and I feel myself doing for a long time to come, not for a month or so. For example, creativity is important to me, so that’s why I write, and that’s why I draw. That’s why I improvise. And there are other things that I would like to do, like learning a foreign language, right? But that’s something extra. If I had more free time, yes, that would be nice. But, you have to sacrifice  something.
 
A: Well, you already know some foreign languages, so…..
 
V: For example, there are instances that they have to say, “no” even for professional activities. If somebody asks me to accompany a soloist... A soprano just recently from the Internet, they saw me sharing my organ improvisation on line, and said, “very nice,” and this improvisation reminded her of the days when she was a soprano, and she asked me if I wanted to collaborate. So, of course, I said, “no” because I don’t have the time. You know?
 
A: Yes, I think on one hand it’s maybe nice to make music with somebody else, but if you are a keyboardist you will always be just a workhorse for a soloist.
 
V: Exactly. And you have to think, “where does it lead?”  If you continue doing this… if it’s just a one time activity, then you don’t even need to bother one time. But if you continue 3, 5, or 10 years, where does it lead if you collaborate with this former soprano…. Former soprano…
 
A: That’s an interesting story.
 
V: It doesn’t lead anywhere.
 
A: Is she now Mezzo-soprano?
 
V: I think she is not a musician today.
 
A: I see.
 
V: So that’s the the trouble with Internet. You post something, and people respond, and you have to be open for their responses, all kinds of responses, and sometimes you have to ignore them.
 
A: True. So I guess the best advice would be to choose wisely what you do with your time.
 
V: Because, otherwise others will choose for you.
 
A: That’s right.
 
V: Thank you guys, this was Vidas,
 
A: And Ausra.
 
V: Please send us more of your questions, we love helping you grow. And remember, when you practice,
 
A: Miracles happen.

Vidas: Hi guys, this is Vidas.
 
Ausra: And Ausra.
 
V: Let’s start episode 354 of Secrets of Organ Playing Podcast. And this question was sent sent by Marion, and Marion writes that the goal is mainly learning to play hymns, and the time for practice is the hardest thing.
 
V: Ausra, when you see that people are writing about finding time, what do you think they really mean?
 
A: Well…
 
V: Because it’s a deeper, I think, question than…
 
A: I think it might mean two things. One that they are very busy and it’s hard for them to squeeze organ practice into their schedule, but I think it also might mean, well, laziness, a little bit.
 
V: Why do you say laziness, specifically? Because, I have another theory.
 
A: Well, because I think it’s in the human nature that sometimes we don’t want to do something, and then we find ourselves excuses for not doing that, and usually, the best answer to it is, “I don’t have enough time.”
 
V:  Oh, so you mean like running is easier than flying, walking is easier than running, standing is easier than walking, and then sitting is easier than standing, and lying down is easier than sitting! And, we would be lying all day long.
 
A: True! And what is your theory?
 
V: My theory is that when a person says that they can’t find time to do something is that they don’t want it badly enough. As you say, you need to sacrifice something, right? And this sacrifice is not worth the trouble—not worth the result, maybe, for them. For example, why do you keep practicing organ after those 25 plus years? You’re busy, right? You’re teaching etc., but why do you keep finding the time?
 
A: Well, I wish just to say that I have that need in my blood to keep practicing,
 
V: Your DNA
 
A: but it’s not always true! Sometimes I’m just having a recital coming up, and that’s what pushes me to practice.
 
V: Deadlines!
 
A: Yes, deadlines, although I really hate them. I hate this forced motivation, deadline, duty… ooh!
 
V: Your favorite words from American college education!
 
A: Yes. I remember that! It was horrible! Horrible!
 
V: Would you be motivated to keep finding the time without those external deadlines?
 
A: It would be much, much harder, and I don’t know how long I would be able to keep practicing. But anyway, since Marion wrote that she needs to learn to play hymns, obviously she works at church, so she has a goal, and she needs to practice, because if she plays at church, probably she gets paid, and so…
 
V: She didn’t write that she works at church, and maybe we are just speculating.
 
A: Well, but maybe she wants to become a church organist.
 
V: Aha, that could be her priority, then. To become better at playing the organ, and you can’t become better unless you practice everyday.
 
A: Well, and I think everybody in their schedule might find time to do that. You just have to sacrifice something. Maybe you don’t have to watch TV, maybe you don’t have to surf your Internet in your smart phone…
 
V: Like you did when I was posting a blog post, right?
 
A: True! Yes!
 
V: Nice. I do that also, sometimes.
 
A: I think that’s a bad habit that everybody has—almost everybody.
 
V: Except when you did this on your phone, you were not looking on Facebook, you were at least doing something productive—helping people on the Steam blockchain.
 
A: True.
 
V: So, I think it comes don’t to managing your priorities, not managing your time, actually. We all have 24 hours, not more and not less. How we spend our time is up to us. At least, I think so. Sometimes people think that it’s not up to them, that they don’t have the choice. Other people force them to do something. What do you have to say about that?
 
A: That’s true! You might find somebody who will push you real hard to play.
 
V: I mean no, no, no….not play, but exactly the opposite, that your day is filled with activity that other people want from you. And then you don’t have time for yourself.
 
A: Well, but that’s so true for so many people, because you have real responsibilities that you must do. If you have, let’s say, a family, have kids, so you probably have to take care of your kids.
 
V: What about….
 
A: If you have a job, you have to go to a job and do it!
 
V: What about doing this totally, with neglecting your own needs. Is this, okay?
 
A: Well, it’s not okay, but that’s what happens in so many cases, especially for women.
 
V: And, are there any hacks or shortcuts to this, to go around and maybe not do everything at 100%, top notch quality, but maybe 95%. Would this work?
 
A: Maybe, I don’t know. I think it would be really nice if people who are around us would think about our needs, too, and maybe they could do some things for themselves, and that would save us some free time, and we could practice more.
 
V: That’s a lot to think about, right?
 
A: Let’s say you have a dog, and you have to take a dog for a walk twice a day. So maybe if you do that twice, maybe you could do that once, and somebody in your household could do it another time. So for that time you could practice.
 
V: But what if….
 
A: It’s just one example. It could be doing dishes, doing laundry, doing whatever domestic…
 
V: I would prefer doing dishes and other errands, because walking the dog is healthy! Movement!
 
A: That’s true.
 
V: I think even twice a day is really good, and it depends on how active a person is. If he or she is already active, then maybe, as you say, once a day would be enough. But for a person who would work in a sitting position all day long, then it’s healthy. And if you sit down on the organ bench, during that time, it’s even more stressful for your body, right? So, it’s a constant struggle, right Ausra, finding courage and motivation to find time—to make time.
 
A: True! And I think that through life, always what suffers first is practice time when you have other needs.
 
V: Do you think, Ausra, that playing organ is a creative activity?
 
A: Of course it is!
 
V: And then, if it is a creative activity, would it make sense to do it first thing in the morning?
 
A: Of course, if you can do that, I think this would be the best thing, to practice in the morning. But…
 
V: And then you can do everything else, right?
 
A: Well, but since, let’s say myself, for example, I start teaching at 8 A.M., I get up at 6 A.M. I cannot imagine myself getting up at 5:00 or even earlier, just in order to practice before my school day….I think I would be dead in half a year after living like that.
 
V: But if you could play the organ from 8 A.M. to 10 A.M. and start teaching at 11…
 
A: It would be ideal, but not in this life time, probably.
 
V: So, we leave our listeners to figure out for themselves what’s the ideal time for them to practice, and how to find motivation, actually, to do this more often. What works for us obviously is to find some external motivation like playing in public once in a while at least, regularly. Then you’re forced to get on the organ bench, because you know that other people will depend on you. And actually, you will be ashamed to play in public without preparation. Right Ausra?
 
A: I hope so!
 
V: But not everybody, right?
 
A: I know!
 
V: There are people who schedule public performances without practicing!
 
A: I have heard so many sloppy performances, and it seems like people have no shame!
 
V: And we have friends like that, actually!
 
A: True.
 
V: I hope they are listening.
 
A: I hope not.
 
V: Okay guys, this was Vidas,
 
A: Ausra,
 
V: And remember, when you practice,
 
A: Miracles happen.

Vidas: Hi guys, this is Vidas.
 
Ausra: And Ausra.
 
V: Let’s start episode 355 of Secrets of Organ Playing Podcast.  This question was sent by Tamara and she writes:
 
“Dear Vidas and Ausra:
 
Thank you so much for your instructional emails, conversations about certain issues related to repertoire and organ playing, and support.  They have been so extremely helpful in my own work.  I've been following/completing each email as best I am able to get the time.  I work a part-time organist position, but also 4 additional positions (as pianist/conductor/teacher) in the music industry here in the U.S.!
 
I missed the Black Friday/Cyber Monday discount on Total Organist, which I hope you will offer again around Christmastime!  At that point I will take advantage of it.  I will be very busy anyway until third week of December, so I will have time to concentrate on organ over the holiday break.
 
I will for now purchase your edition of the Hallelujah Chorus from Messiah, as well as the Karg-Elert Nun danket alle Gott--the latter which I played for our Thanksgiving Service two weeks ago.  I will appreciate your take on the fingerings and pedal markings.
 
Sending you both very best wishes!
 
Sincerely,
 
Tamara
 
PS--I also enjoy your cartoons!”
 
A: That’s very nice.
 
V: Tamara is very diligent listener of ours and tries to apply our tips in her practice in her church service work a lot and this is extremely pleasing to know right Ausra?
 
A: Yes, I’m glad she finds it useful.
 
V: For people like that it’s worth doing what we are creating because these people like Tamara can really reap the benefits of their practice and they can help themselves and we’re glad to be part of this.
 
A: And we are glad that somebody like Tamara responds to us back and we know that we are doing a useful job.
 
V: And she says that she didn’t take our offer for Total Organist for Black Friday and Cyber Monday and she hopes to get around it for Christmas time.  Will we offer it Ausra?
 
A: Yes, I think we will.
 
V: And Christmas is really not far away.
 
A: Yes, it’s coming really fast.
 
V: So when Tamara will join Total Organist and if other people will join together with her they can practice any course that there is in our repertoire, any material that they wish to download, any program that they find useful.  We have music theory courses, harmony courses.  We have improvisation right Ausra?  What else we have?
 
A: Yes, plenty of to choose.
 
V: Sight reading, hymn playing, pedal playing.  Just about any area from organ playing.  That’s why we call it Total Organist.
 
A: Yes, plus a lot of pieces with the fingering and pedaling written in.
 
V: Umm-hmm.  It’s really helpful.
 
A: You know what I noticed when we were reading Tamara’s letter that she has so many positions as a musician.  Do you think it’s hard for a person to have three or four part-time positions or it’s harder to have one full-time position?
 
V: I would think that having one full-time position is easier than five part-time positions because then you can concentrate fully, give 100 percent in your one job.  What about you Ausra?
 
A: But maybe it’s nice when you have part-time positions then sort of you never get bored because you have to change surroundings all the time.
 
V: And there are certain advantages, right?  If you get kicked out of one position you have four more left. 
 
A: Yes, you have four more left or three more left.
 
V: What do we call it?  Diversification right?
 
A: That’s right.
 
V: And diversification is the path to financial independence and that’s what people in today’s world are striving for a lot these days because to be dependent on one full-time position is scary these days.  You have the job and maybe your priest is transferred to another church and then you can lose it.
 
A: Yes.  So I guess it’s sort of nice to be a musician because you have all these options.
 
V: You can be a free-lancer right?  You can be substitute organist.  You can position yourself as a person who can play services for other churches when there isn’t anybody around.
 
A: And since Tamara also is pianist and conductor and a teacher it gives her broad perspective of things to do and I think it’s very often the case with organists that we play both organ and piano and can conduct choir and can teach too.
 
V: Exactly Ausra.  Would you prefer being a full-time or part-time musician in several institutions?
 
A: Well it’s a tricky question.
 
V: Like today I will explain a little bit situation.  Like right now you are working at National Children’s School of Music with lots and lots of hours.
 
A: Yes it’s a full-time, more than a full-time.
 
V: How many classes do you teach?
 
A: Twenty-six hours per week.
 
V: Twenty-six and plus all the grading papers and additional…
 
A: Yes, preparation and all that paper work.
 
V: So it’s a full-time. 
 
A: Yes.
 
V: It takes probably forty hours of your week easily.
 
A: Definitely.
 
V: And would you rather teach less there and do something else in other fields.
 
A: Well I can’t imagine how I could teach less then I would get less money and even now sometimes it’s hard to survive from teaching full-time and plus I’m also a part-time organist at Vilnius University.
 
V: Umm-hmm.  It depends on where you live in the world, how advanced your country is and ...
 
A: How we are valuing teachers let’s say because my country is not obviously.
 
V: Just last week-end we had strike and demonstration of teachers and other unions in the center of Vilnius demanding respect for this profession, bigger salaries, lesser classrooms and what else?  In general, more respect.  Do you think they will succeed?
 
A: I don’t think so.
 
V: And the same week-end they had strikes and demonstrations in Paris, violence.
 
A: Yes, they were breaking windows and burning cars.
 
V: And our teachers just were protesting with bells in their hand and books and very politely.
 
A: Very intelligently.  But nobody listens to you when you are too polite.
 
V: Yeah, you are right.
 
A: But we are northern people, we don’t know how to protest.  We had not thrown us off.
 
V: Exactly, we have cold blood.
 
A: I don’t think so, I think we hide our emotions inside.
 
V: Oh, that’s why we have so many psychological illnesses.
 
A: Yes, and so many alcoholics.
 
V: Umm-hmm.
 
A: And also you know…
 
V: Suicide rate is quite high.
 
A: Yes, it’s very high.  I believe it’s the highest in the world.
 
V: Umm-hmm.  Yeah.  Every country has its own advantages and disadvantages and you have to live where you are and make the best of it I guess.
 
A: That’s right.
 
V: Luckily today we live in a global world where we can teach, right?  You can teach not only your school but teach globally in 89 countries.
 
A: Yes, that’s a very nice thing.
 
V: And anybody who has any sort of skill they can do similar things today and writing a blog and getting paid for it is so easy today with blog chain technologies.  Just five years ago it wasn’t possible at all.  You had to do what we’ve been doing, right Ausra?  You usually have product or service in addition to your blog selling to people, helping in other ways who would prefer to pay you.  But today you could just post your teachings online and the platform itself pays for it.
 
A: I wish more people would take advantage of this and do such a sort of work but for me now seems that so little understands about it.  For example we have so many teachers, some are friends you have especially.
 
V: Alex, from our book club.
 
A: And we are all in all teaching languages and most of them work at school or at university but we just don’t understand what we are doing and Vidas tries to explain to them so…
 
V: I was once proposing to get our communication into the telegram group where instant chat and messaging services is much more efficient and flexible and easy to do and user friendly and most of them were stuck with email.
 
A: Yes and Vidas was so persistent and he’s never tired of educating people.  He tried so hard to convince them but nobody took advantage of it, almost nobody.
 
V: Anyway you have to always be curious about new developments, about new technologies and how they can help creative people and I can tell you quite surely that there hasn’t been a better time to be a creative person.  And we are all creative.  It doesn’t matter which field you are in, teacher or musician or artist, we all are creating something from our brain.  Ideas.  We generate ideas and today is the best time to generate ideas and get paid for them.
 
A: That’s right.
 
V: So for Tamara, maybe for others who are also struggling with part-time positions you could actually look online and take advantage of new technologies, such as Steem, ONO, Whaleshares, Trybe and others and do what you are still doing actually but diversify your income even more than you are doing and actually get paid while you sleep.  That would be wonderful right Ausra?
 
A: Umm-hmm.  Yeah.
 
V: You got paid while you slept right for your cartoons,
 
A: That’s right, yeah.
 
V: (Laughs.)  Pinky and Spiky.  Thank you guys for listening.  Thank you guys for applying our tips in your practice.  If just a few people do what we are experimenting with and leading by example I think this is a good precedent and they can also start developing their own new ideas and create new circles.  And remember when you practice…
 
A: Miracles happen.

Vidas: Hi guys, this is Vidas.
 
Ausra: And Ausra.
 
V: Let’s start episode 293 of Secrets of Organ Playing Podcast. This question was sent by Jeremy, and he writes that he struggles with finding practice time.
 
V: Ausra, do you struggle finding practice time this week when you started teaching?
 
A: Of course! But sometimes, I feel sort of strange, because people might think that we are magicians. And they write to us asking about having more time to practice and we will make more time for them to practice. What do you think? Don’t you feel the same way?
 
V: Well, sometimes just a few words of encouragement can go a long way. But, obviously, deep inside people know that real steps have to be taken by themselves if playing is important to them—important enough. Right? A person, not necessarily Jeremy, but anybody could say that organ playing is important on the surface, and they might have a lot of CDs in their collection, even listen to a lot of YouTube videos of their favorite organ music, they could read a lot of organ related books, they could go to organ related concerts, they could buy even an instrument—used instrument or some kind of electronic organ at home to practice. They would invest everything. But, that doesn’t necessarily mean that that person will sit down on the bench.
 
A: But maybe they need all that other activity just to get inspiration! Don’t you think so? Because sometimes listening to a good recording or going to a concert is worth very much.
 
V: Yes, for example, last week we went to a few concerts of an early music festival, which we also played in last week, too, which is called Banchetto Musicale. We know the organizers, and we absolutely love the kind of music they promote, but it would be, I think, counterproductive to just go that week to all the concerts but never touch the organ ourselves. Don’t you think?

A: I know, but it’s funny you are talking about last week when we both played that recital in that festival of the early music, and then you went to Liepāja and performed a solo recital—improvised recital—and basically killed that Liepājas organ!
 
V: Yes, shall I talk a little bit about that?
 
A: Yes, you need to tell everybody about it.
 
V: Ok. Liepāja—the city about 70,000 people living there on the Baltic coast, in the southwestern corner of Latvia, about 100 kilometers from the city I grew up in Klaipėda. So basically, it’s a very nice city on the coast, and it has a wonderful Lutheran Cathedral—Holy Trinity Cathedral—which houses sort of the largest mechanical organ in the world, with 131 stops. Even larger than Sydney town hall organ, because Sydney town hall organ has 127 stops and tubular pneumatic action, not mechanical. So, it’s completely in original condition, and it has all those mechanical devices which you would have in mechanical action organs at the time, from 1885. And, this is such a mammoth, magnificent and gigantic organ, that sometimes you are at a loss, where are your stops! It’s a sea of stops—a sea of handles. Various colors notate various divisions, and you have to get used to that. In my case, I’ve been playing there already the third time there last weekend, so it wasn’t a new experience for me, and in order to prepare for that recital, I simply watched my own videos. On that organ, I made a few demonstrations a few years ago, and I refreshed my memory where the divisions are located. But since I improvised everything, and my theme was David and Goliath, the biblical story, I didn’t need to be very strict with my music, because I was improvising on the spot, and choosing the stops on the spot as well. So, what I did is I practiced on the organ one hour, only one hour before the concert in the morning of Saturday, and in the evening, I played this recital.
 
A: But you’d better tell us about your grand finale!
 
V: Grand finale… yes! I thought that my grand finale should be very joyful and solemn, that David must have killed that giant, Goliath, and I planned to finish on Fortissimo sounds, but, to my surprise, the electricity of the motor or the blower went off, and at that time, luckily, I was playing rather softly, with soft registration, and after a few seconds, the organ sounds stopped. So, it might might mean that I killed the Goliath! David killed Goliath!
 
A: So the organ was like Goliath, yes? And you were like David yourself.
 
V: Yes, one of the interpretations could be that way. And, at first, I was so shocked, I didn’t know what to do! I kept pushing and pulling that organ blower stop with hopes that it will come to life again, and I did this while sitting on the bench for several minutes, and this recital was broadcast down to the pews on the big large screen! Two cameras were filming me from both sides, and people obviously were seeing me work with my hands but didn’t know what I’m doing, because there was no sound at the time. So, when I finally gave up, I stood up, and took a bow, and then they finally started clapping. And then I went downstairs to take a bow again, and that was the end. So, then I asked the local organist what happened, and he said that this happens from time to time with this organ, and he needs to call an organ builder. I was relieved to know that I wasn’t the first one to break this organ! It’s basically, maybe, some contacts. Some wiring was not in the right place, in the right order.
 
A: That’s a fascinating story! I hope it will encourage people to practice, and maybe Jeremy might listen to your talk, will squeeze some practice time in his schedule.
 
V: Do you know why I think people could squeeze some practice into their day, at least 15 minutes? In my case, it’s because for the last two weeks, every day of the week before this  Liepāja recital, I went to the church to practice my improvisations, and I even broadcast my improvisations on Facebook Live, that I don’t usually do, and this gave me motivation. Like, I knew my concert is coming up, and if I don’t sit down today, I missed one day, and tomorrow my fingers will be weaker, my creative muscle will atrophy a little bit, and in the long run it will affect my playing. So, I kept motivating myself through this public accountability, through deadline approaching to my recital, and also through broadcasting my live organ videos. I’m not saying, Ausra, that Jeremy should necessarily broadcast himself. He can if he wants to, but having a deadline, that really helps.
 
A: Yes. Pushing yourself forward.
 
V: Do you like deadlines, Ausra?
 
A: No, I don’t like them. But sometimes, they are necessary, as taking your medicine.
 
V: Would you practice less or more if you didn’t have public recitals lined up 5 years from now?
 
A: Probably less.
 
V: Me, too. I remember, there was a time after we returned from the United States studies, and in one half year, six months, I didn’t have planned recitals, and I didn’t practice everyday. I even didn’t touch organ keys for weeks or even months, I think. But now it’s obviously different, because I make those public performances to happen, and I make the time to prepare for them.
 
A: Good for you.
 
V: So you will practice a little today Ausra?
 
A: Yes.
 
V: Even though you’re starting to prepare for your Notre Dame recital, right?
 
A: Which will come in 2 years!
 
V: Will you be inviting myself to come along to help you out with packing and carrying your stuff?
 
A: That’s usually actually I help you with YOUR packing! So...
 
V: So, I’ll stay at home, and you go to Paris!
 
A: No! You can carry my bag!
 
V: Bag, yes! Excellent. But that will happen only in the summer of 2020.
 
A: Yes.
 
V: And you will have to play what kind of pieces?
 
A: Well, Bach, Alain, and Franck…
 
V: Bach E♭ major, right?
 
A: Yes.
 
V: Prelude and Fugue. Alain Second Fantasie?
 
A: Yes.
 
V: And what about Franck?
 
A: The second Chorale B minor.
 
V: Wonderful piece. Not too easy. Thank you guys, this was Vidas,
 
A: And Ausra.
 
V: And please remember to practice today. We also will go to the organ bench and play something. Maybe not too much, after those exhausting days last week, but still, we need to sit down at least for a few moments to play something. This is really helpful, because when you practice,
 
A: Miracles happen.

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Vidas: Hi guys, this is Vidas.
 
Ausra: And Ausra.
 
V: Let’s start episode 275 of Secrets of Organ Playing Podcast.  And this question was sent by Carsten.
​
 Dear Vidas and Ausra,

I'm glad to hear from you and I'm happy as well that my donation is so highly appreciated.
​
Please take it as my personal way to say "Thank you!" to both of you for all of your great inspiring and continuous advice, newsletters and videos, which always helped me out when I got stuck on my way to further dive into playing the organ.

Apropos getting stuck: My current job of being a software developer was very demanding over the past months -- and still is, with still no time to relax within visible reach. This had a big impact on my schedule, so my hobby of organ playing suffered a lot since I did not feel like sitting down on the bench every day. Of course, I had a bad conscience about this because I remembered all of your articles about time management, being consistent in practice, taking the daily 15 minutes and so on...

But in the end, to my very surprise, I was even able to improvise on some symphonic pieces for about 2.5 hours on a big IV+P cathedral organ during public opening hours -- without having played a single note for about four or five weeks before. Sometimes it seems like energy cells have to recharge for a while and it also seems that a bit of distance isn't a always a bad idea. Of course, I do not feel to have reached "concert level" yet -- but to be honest, this is nothing that I personally NEED to achieve (yeah, I take the relaxed way and do that for my personal fun and the joy of others). Also, "concert level" could mean a wide variety of things and may not mean anything to the listeners who do or even do not enjoy the music at a certain moment.

What mattered in my opinion was that (a) I was present there on that wonderful organ, (b) had no fear or performance anxiety, as you called it, even with numerous visitors walking through the huge building, (c) seized the moment despite of people talking, making their phone calls (what the ?!?!?) and children screaming, (d) let a number of friends, relatives and random visitors have a good time with my music and finally (d) was able to conduct the first surround recording of my impros.

If I made you curious about the result, I'd happily invite you to watch my "Dom Momente Live" playlist, which you can find on my YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/WoodyofmC .
In case you'd like to keep an eye on my progress: During the past years, I recorded a number of pieces and performances for my family and friends (CDs are a great gift for any occasion...) and I'm currently in the process of creating a discography page in case one of them would like to order additional copies as a gift for his or her own friends. At http://en.wpoa.de , you may keep track of how my hobby is evolving -- last but not least, thanks to your highly appreciated mentoring! :-)
 
V: So what do you think about this long and fascinating feedback Ausra?
 
A: Truly fascinating.
 
V: What?
 
A: So, you know I think that the main idea of this letter is that you could have sort of a break from the organ and then go back to it and it might do you good.
 
V: Exactly and Carsten gives us 5 YouTube links here of his improvisations and he is interested in knowing our feedback.  But I don’t think were able to do that in detail in this episode but maybe in the next one we can listen to them beforehand and say a few things about those improvisations.  We’ll be glad to do that.  So my comment about this performance in cathedral is that yes, he was honest about those four things he noticed and even though it was not perfect, performance was not perfect, but he didn’t beat himself up for this.  That’s a good, I think, character trait.  Positive outlook.
 
A: Yes, it’s excellent and I think he chose very wisely to improvise because he hadn’t played the organ for a while before that.  So I think in such a case improvisation is always a better idea than to play repertoire that you haven’t practiced for a month or more.
 
V: Umm-hmm.
 
A: Don’t you think so?
 
V: Right.  Here I would like to add a comment about something that was written in the beginning.  Carsten wrote that “his current job of being a software developer was very demanding and this had a big impact on his schedule and so his hobby of organ playing suffered a lot since he did not feel like sitting down on the bench every day.”  I’d like to add a comment here.  Feeling is less important, I’m talking about my own perspective of course, if I have a goal and I don’t have time, or tired, or even sometimes sick, which might happen and I feel the pressure to keep on track of my schedule I would do, no matter what my practice look like, maybe fifteen minutes would be enough, not maybe an hour but fifteen minutes I could do no matter what even if I did not feel like sitting down on the bench.  What do you think Ausra about that attitude?  Strict attitude.
 
A: Well, I don’t agree actually with you.
 
V: See guys, we are so different and that’s so wonderful because you get both perspectives in one Podcast.
 
A: Well, in July I spent a week in the hospital and then was sick for a few weeks and I haven’t practiced at all because I didn’t have any possibility to do it.
 
V: No, I understand that.
 
A: And I still went to London and gave that recital together with you.
 
V: Did they come to your hospital and say “Ausra you need to practice” while lying in bed?
 
A: I’m just giving you this example that you would understand that there are periods in life when you really cannot practice.
 
V: No, of course when you are sick, like really sick, cannot really move or work.
 
A: Maybe I had to ask you to bring me organ to the hospital.
 
V: Or have temperature, high fever then it’s even dangerous to do that, but still you know what I would do?  I would practice in my head while lying in bed.
 
A: With a fever of forty degrees, yes?
 
V: No, forty degrees no, but thirty-nine degrees, yes.  (Laughs)
 
A: Well let’s wait until you get sick and then we will see how much you will practice in your head.
 
V: And then we will record another Podcast episode about that.
 
A: Yeah.  You know, when you have fever I can see it from my experience now that such a high fever you don’t understand what is real and what is not real.  And then yes maybe in your head somewhere you can practice while hallucinating.
 
V: What I was meaning of course Ausra is that Carsten was not having a fever, you know.
 
A: Well but you know his job is his job it’s his priority because it pays his bills so you have to do that thing.
 
V: Listen to this.  He had the bad conscience about skipping practice because he remembered our article saying about importance of being consistent and taking at least fifteen minutes a day.  So he knows that it’s important, right, but he didn’t feel like sitting down.  It’s basically saying that he knows the right way but his will is not strong enough to do it sometimes.
 
A: But look, even you know things happen and you cannot practice for some time no matter what the reason is, don’t feel guilty because that feeling of inner guilt is bad for you.
 
V: Yes.  Guys please don’t think that I’m practicing like a saint every day for seven hours straight.  No.  I also skip practice from time to time and I don’t recommend doing this but sometimes life gets in the way.  But don’t beat yourself up if you do this.  Be always positive and love yourself.
 
A: For example right now we spent two days on the seacoast and we haven’t practiced for those two days and this morning I practiced again and actually I felt even better because given those two days without practicing helped me to look to my repertoire with new eyes.  I got some new ideas.  I heard and saw some things that I haven’t noticed before and I think it’s good to give yourself sometimes without practicing.  But of course don’t do it too often.
 
V: We won’t try to give you a recipe how many days you can skip, right?  It’s dangerous.
 
A: Sure, because I think it’s individual for everybody.
 
V: If the reason is really important then of course go ahead and skip and don’t beat yourself up for that but then maybe try to make it up the next day, right?
 
A: Yes.
 
V: OK guys this was Vidas.
 
A: And Ausra.
 
V: We have different opinions, right Ausra?
 
A: That’s right.
 
V: But that’s the beauty of it, right, our conversations.  Sometimes people can choose whichever opinions they like and which advice they can take to heart.
A: True.
 
V: So please send us more of your questions, we love helping you grow even though we don’t always agree with each other, but we always support each other.
 
A: True.
 
V: That’s another thing.  So remember when you practice…
 
A: Miracles happen.

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Vidas: Hi guys, this is Vidas.
 
Ausra: And Ausra.
 
V: Let’s start episode 262 of Secrets of Organ Playing Podcast. This question was sent by T. P. Johnston, Jr. He writes:
 
I'm age 66. Was a professional organist during my high school years. Had been away from the organ for about 40+ years until our church purchased a new Hauptwerk Virtual Pipe Organ, 4 manuals. Very nice instrument. So I've been working to rebuild my skills. They are coming back, but very slowly. Am only able to practice for 1 - 1/2 hours, 3 days per week, so probably won't ever get all my skill level back. But I'm making progress. Your materials are helping a great deal.
​
V: So Ausra, he seems to have spent a lot of time without an instrument, right?
 
A: Yes, that’s true.
 
V: That should be hard for people who practiced in their high school years, in their youth, a lot. Do you remember, we have Mindaugas in our studio, Unda Maris at Vilnius University, who spent with us, maybe, four years?
 
A: That’s right. All his undergrad studies.
 
V: But now, he is transferring to another city, and I think he found a job, and I think no longer will be able to play regularly with us.
 
A: True.
 
V: It’s not clear to me, if he will continue to practice as hard or not, right?
 
A: Well, who knows.
 
V: Who knows. So, it could happen that Mindaugas, just like T. P. Johnston, Jr., will have to spend many years without the organ, and this calling perhaps comes back after a few decades. Because, I think it will come back, don’t you think?
 
A: Definitely, especially when he says he was a professional organist. I think it will be easier for him to get his shape back, compared to somebody who decided to learn to play the organ at an old age.
 
V: So even having the electronic or virtual organ at home is very practical. You can work on your terms, but you can disturb you; if you are working late at night or early in the mornings, you can even use headphones…
 
A: But actually, I understood that the church purchased that instrument, not T. P. Johnston, Jr. himself.
 
V: Right. But at any rate, he has access to it, right? It’s nice. So, I guess the main issue that he is having is that he is slowly rebuilding his skills. I think he wants to progress faster.
 
A: Well, you know with 40 years without playing, that’s a long time! A long period of time! You cannot expect that after practicing for, I don’t know how long he started to practice again, but well, you could not regain your previous skills in let’s say, half a year.
 
V: But it’s good that he’s using our materials, right, because with guidance, with correct practice methods, efficient practice methods, he can progress much faster.
 
A: Definitely.
 
V: What happens when people study on their own without any guidance? Can they intuitively learn from recordings and videos?
 
A: I think we can, but of course, the practice will not be as sufficient as it could be. Our progress will be much slower.
 
V: That person has to learn from their own mistakes, right?
 
A: True.
 
V: And those mistakes sometimes will be so difficult to overcome, and some people will quit because of that.
 
A: That’s right.
 
V: Because they won’t believe they can overcome those difficulties. But luckily, T. P. Johnston, Jr. has advice from us, and can work through our material. That’s very beneficial. He doesn’t say what he wants to achieve, right? What kind of skills does he have to regain? Hymn playing, repertoire playing, pedal playing, or all of the above? What do you think, Ausra?
 
A: Well, probably all of the above. All those things that you mentioned, since he’s a church organist. He needs all those skills.
 
V: And he said that he was a professional organist during his high school years, so it probably   meant that he could play the repertoire, too. So, his practice schedule, then, today, might look much different than from 40 years ago. Because, now, he has, perhaps, more time. He is 66. If that’s the case, Ausra, let’s talk a little bit how he could divide his practice time.
 
A: Well, first of all, I would suggest that he would practice every day. Maybe not for an hour and a half, but that way he could rebuild his skills faster.
 
V: If he practices three days a week, as he says, an hour and a half, could he practice like 30 minutes or even 15 minutes the rest of the week, but every day, would that be better than skipping practice altogether?
 
A: I think that would be much better.
 
V: Because on those days when he has only 15 minutes to practice, he can repeat previously mastered material easily. And the next day, progress could be faster.
 
A: Yes, but still, I don’t think it’s enough to practice 15 minutes a day.
 
V: When a person says that he’s only able to practice 3 days per week, he means, probably, that he is able to gt to church 3 days per week, right?
 
A: Could be.
 
V: The church won’t let him use the organ more often, probably.
 
A: Could be.
 
V: Are there any options for him to practice every day, not in the church?
 
A: Well, if you have an instrument at home, then yes, you can do it. If not, then it’s harder.
 
V: Let’s say he doesn’t have an organ at home. I would probably practice on the table on those days. Do you think it would work?
 
A: It might work for somebody like you, not for everybody, maybe.
 
V: Why not?
 
A: Not everybody has a good inner pitch and can hear what he’s playing on the table.
 
V: You’re right. When there is no sound, you have to imagine the sound in your head. But if you know the piece from recordings, maybe this helps to imagine what you’re playing on the table.
 
A: True.
 
V: Is it good to practice with recordings, Ausra? On top of recordings?
 
A: I don’t think so… I think that’s a bad habit.
 
V: Why? Why do other people do it, then, and like to do it?
 
 
A: I don’t know, you tell me! You started this discussion, so maybe you have some thoughts about it.
 
V: Of course I do. I think people like to get a feeling that they can play an entire piece without stopping, just like in the concert, even though they couldn’t. Right? Remember, you played with a clarinetist.
 
A: Oh, I remember.
 
V: A long time ago.
 
A: I try to forget it.
 
V: So tell us a little bit, what happened. 
 
A: Well, we were playing a sonata by Brahms, and that’s a tough part for pianists, not as tough for clarinetists. And, when we got together, we could not play together, because simply, she could not keep the right rhythm. And we tried to figure out what is happening, how she learned the piece, and she told us she simply played together with the recording. So, she simply hadn’t counted, and basically learned somebody’s interpretation. But the problem is that I learned the music as it’s written out, and not by that recording.
 
V: You’re right and you couldn’t fit together.
 
A: Yes, because she could not count. She could not play what it’s written out.
 
V: So, guys, if you do use recordings for playing, and sometimes I record those slow motion videos, right, then people people say they like to practice while looking at my hands, and do one more thing. You have to keep counting yourself, right? Don’t rely on that recording of my playing, let’s say, or anybody else’s playing. And the difference between my recordings in slow motion and the recordings that Ausra was talking about earlier is that probably this girl played in concert tempo all the time...
 
A: Yes!
 
V: ...with concert recordings. And that’s not a good way to practice. If you want to practice with the recording, slow down the video to half speed at least. That helps you to concentrate and count, and it will not sound like a performance, it will be practice. Right? So, we hope this was useful for you and everybody, and please send us more of your questions; we love helping you grow. This was Vidas.
 
A: And Ausra.
 
V: And remember, when you practice,
 
A: Miracles happen.

This blog/podcast is supported by Total Organist - the most comprehensive organ training program online. It has hundreds of courses, coaching and practice materials for every area of organ playing, thousands of instructional videos and PDF's.  ​You will NOT find more value anywhere else online...

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Vidas: Let’s start Episode 107 of #AskVidasAndAusra podcast. This question was sent by Brice, and here is how it sounds:

“When I learn a piece of music depending on its difficulty I can learn it in several hours, or several days, several weeks or 1 to 2 months. Don't mind taking a lot of time to learn to music, but I'd like it so that I can get myself up to the level where I read simple pieces of music down to less than an hour if not 30 to 20 minutes to learn. Or be able to just sight read such a easy piece.”

Basically, this question is about the level of fluency in sight-reading, yes Ausra?

Ausra: Yes, or learning music faster.

Vidas: So we probably have to advise people to just keep practicing sight-reading, right?

Ausra: Yes, I think that would be the easiest way to reach the level you want to be at.

Vidas: Of course, Brice is concerned about the time it takes to do this, right? The amount of practice.

Ausra: Yes.

Vidas: Apparently, the level of skill is getting better--but too slowly for Brice.

Ausra: Well, it would be excellent in such a case to find a church position, if he doesn’t have one. That way, you would just be forced to do it.

Vidas: Every week.

Ausra: Yes, every week…

Vidas: Maybe several times a week.

Ausra: Maybe several services a week, and new repertoire all the time--prelude, postlude, offering, hymns...And this would make things easier after a while. Of course, you would suffer at first; you would have to play a lot, but eventually it would get easier.

Vidas: I struggled with sight-reading for a very long time. I remember my first piece was, I think, “Jesu meine Freude” from Orgelbüchlein. In the 10th grade, my teacher gave it to me, to choose from any chorale; and I chose this piece. And I couldn’t sight-read even the hands part fluently enough at a slow tempo. I was struggling at the level that I even didn’t understand how the piece is put together. What about you?

Ausra: Well yes, I basically was a good sight-reader from a very early age; but the thing is that after playing music the second time, it wouldn’t get much better than sight-reading it! So I had my struggles, too. But I remember when I worked at a Christian Scientist church while I was studying in Michigan--well, it was a nice job, actually, to have. But I remember each week, the reader who would lead service that Sunday would call me and leave the hymn numbers on my answering machine, in order for me to be able to learn them for Sunday. And first of all, yes I would do that: I would play them, prepare them in advance, be worried that everything would go well; but after maybe playing for like half a year in that church, I would never play those hymns in advance--I would never prepare them in advance. I would just show up on Sunday and play for the service. Because I didn’t need to do it.

Vidas: You were good enough?

Ausra: Yes, yes.

Vidas: Mhm. For me, I think, the struggle continued even until late years in America, I think. But yes, this position that we both shared--Grace Lutheran Church, but even earlier in Michigan, I worked in Ypsilanti Missouri Synod Lutheran Church there; and I also had to provide a lot of hymns, preludes, postludes, communion music, offertories, regularly, sometimes several times a week, even for funerals. So gradually, I found out that really, I’m getting better at this. I hated to spend too much time with learning the music, so I really sightread everything. So after maybe 2 months of doing this intensely, I suddenly realized a breakthrough.

Ausra: Yes. And of course, your theoretical background--of understanding the theory of music--is also very important in order to be able to learn music fast or sight-read well. Because knowing all those clefs and key signatures--that’s what makes you to sight-read music easily.

Vidas: Basically, your brain has to connect the dots for you--

Ausra: Sure, sure.

Vidas: To know the meaning behind the notes.

Ausra: That’s right. Because usually, you know, if you read a piece of music in C Major, it’s easier than to read, for example, music in D♭ Major.

Vidas: Mhm.

Ausra: The more key accidentals you get, the harder it is. And of course, it’s easy to sight-read, let’s say, a hymn, because it might have like, a few secondary dominants; but that’s almost the hardest theoretical thing you can get in a hymn. But if you are learning a piece of music from such a composer as Max Reger, for example, which has such chromatic harmony…

Vidas: Or Louis Vierne.

Ausra: Yes. So, it adds much more difficulty.

Vidas: I think people should not rush into very advanced pieces too early.

Ausra: Yes; and you know, I think if you want to sight-read music fast and well, and be able to learn music fast enough, you need to pick up easy repertoire for beginners.

Vidas: Mhm.

Ausra: There are some very good examples of music that sounds good, but it’s not as hard to learn, for beginners. Like, for example, Frescobaldi’s “Fiori Musicali”. That’s a wonderful collection for church musicians. Or you know, if you want Romantic music, pick up Cesar Franck’s “L’Organiste”. That’s an excellent collection.

Vidas: Or Alexandre Guilmant wrote Practical Organist and Liturgical Organist. Those collections also have short pieces based sometimes on chants, sometimes not on chants; but they’re suited for church playing. And they’re beautiful pieces, but not too difficult.

Ausra: Yes.

Vidas: And sometimes they are with pedal, sometimes without; you can have optional pedal lines, like for harmonium, without any pedals; but you can add pedals, playing the bass with your feet.

Ausra: Yes. So if you don’t have much time to prepare your music, pick up easy music for beginners; and then together with that, at the same time, you can learn (slower) harder pieces.

Vidas: Another thing to consider is to start improvising. Right? It does help, too.

Ausra: Well, yes, it does help, too, but it will not make you a better sight-reader.

Vidas: Why not?

Ausra: Because when you improvise, you don’t have a music score in front of you. And I think if you just improvise, eventually you might not be able to play from the sheet music at all. That’s my opinion.

Vidas: Here I agree with you, but I also have another perspective on this. If you improvise freely from your imagination, then yes, the skill of reading music is something different. But if you are thinking in terms of harmony and counterpoint, like the piece is really written out in your mind, then it helps, eventually.

Ausra: Well, I see your point; but improvisation like this, as you described it, will take you even more time than learning music from the score.

Vidas: So guys, choose whatever works for you. We’re only sharing our perspectives and experiences, right?

Ausra: Yes.

Vidas: Wonderful. And of course, apply our tips in your practice, if you like them. That makes all the difference. And please send us more of your questions; we love helping you grow. This was Vidas.

Ausra: And Ausra.

Vidas: And remember, when you practice…

Ausra: Miracles happen.